The University of Essex acquired a substantial complex of redundant church buildings in the Clifftown area of Southend to create a theatre school for its successful East 15 department of Theatre and Drama Studies.

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In order to meet the University’s tight timescales, driven by the academic year, the project was run on a fast track basis – a challenging task with a listed building. Our design enabled the major spaces to be retained intact. Although public performances are catered for, the building’s primary use is for education – the varied curriculum includes fight choreography and circus skills such as trapeze.